UNATHI moving to METRO FM – Good Luck Sis’wami.

We all know that S’BU is ducking from YFM (aka Mzeke…
zeke) but one does have to question a DJ that has a slot on his show where people are invited to say who they would like to beat up with a baseball bat…. We love his energy maar… as someone influencing the youth… in a country overflowing with violence and abuse… eish. Anyway back to Zuraida – check the official press release below: 

5FM’s Zuraida Jardine is trading the mic for a bike… And a plane and a car. The popular mid morning presenter will be leaving 5FM at the end of June to go on an extended road trip across the United States of America with husband Josh Lindberg.

But her association with 5FM will continue, with Zuraida covering lifestyle for the station live from the streets of America.

Said Zuraida, “The last few years have been incredible for me and it’s hard giving all this up. But actually it’s easy when you realise that this is the only chance we are going to get to do something like this – we’re young, unencumbered and there’s a lot to see out there.”

Added Station Manager John Langford: “We wish Zuraida well. She’s been part of an amazing team that has taken 5FM to new heights and we are happy that she won’t be entirely lost to 5FM, and will continue to work as part of our lifestyle street team.”

Zuraida has been hosting mid mornings on 5FM (weekdays 9am -12pm) for the past year. Her replacement will be announced shortly.

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Don’t say we didn’t warn you….
PABi has now quit MetroFM – talk about movers and shakers…The official PR:
Metro FM DJ Pabi Moloi will be leaving the station at the end of March, choosing not to take up her recently announced appointment despite her undertaking to the station that she would do so.Metro FM DJ Pabi Moloi will be leaving the station at the end of March, choosing not to take up her recently announced appointment despite her undertaking to the station that she would do so.Metro FM announced last week that they had appointed Pabi to co-host the mid morning drive show with Paul Mtirara (Mon-Fri 09:00 – 12:00). Her departure now means that Mtirara will host mid mornings on his own.Metro FM DJ Pabi Moloi will be leaving the station at the end of March, choosing not to take up her recently announced appointment despite her undertaking to the station that she would do so.Metro FM announced last week that they had appointed Pabi to co-host the mid morning drive show with Paul Mtirara (Mon-Fri 09:00 – 12:00). Her departure now means that Mtirara will host mid mornings on his own.Confirmed Leo Manne, Metro Fm Programme Manager, “We were a little surprised by Pabi ‘s about turn as she had accepted our offer to enter into a new contract and was happy for us to announce it publicly. At those discussions she unfortunately chose not to give us any indication that in fact she was considering her options.”

Metro FM DJ Pabi Moloi will be leaving the station at the end of March, choosing not to take up her recently announced appointment despite her undertaking to the station that she would do so.Metro FM announced last week that they had appointed Pabi to co-host the mid morning drive show with Paul Mtirara (Mon-Fri 09:00 – 12:00). Her departure now means that Mtirara will host mid mornings on his own.Confirmed Leo Manne, Metro Fm Programme Manager, “We were a little surprised by Pabi ‘s about turn as she had accepted our offer to enter into a new contract and was happy for us to announce it publicly. At those discussions she unfortunately chose not to give us any indication that in fact she was considering her options.””Her change of heart does not affect our line up plans, and is a great opportunity for Paul. We wish Pabi well.”

Metro FM also confirmed last week that Thomas ‘Bad Boy T’ Msengana will be joining the station at the beginning of July to host the weekday lunchtime show (Mon-Fri 09:00 – 12:00).

“We do not confirm appointments publicly until we have the necessary paperwork in place. So despite the rumours for example, that Bad Boy T was joining Metro FM, for us it was not a done deal until both parties had signed the contracts. We followed the same process with Pabi and not do so would be reckless.”

The new weekday line up on Metro FM from 1 July is as follows:
06:00 – 09:00 Azania Mosaka
09:00 – 12:00 Paul Mtirara
12:00 – 15:00 Bad Boy T
15:00 – 18:00 Glen Lewis
18:00 – 19:00 Robert Marawa

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16 FEB
Finally… Metro gives us the “official” statement… don’t see Lee in there.. and don’t forget there’s still that ‘other’ change we hinted at below… What we want to know (and we know it’s not polite) what kind of money is going down here….any ideas?

After weeks of speculation national urban station Metro FM confirmed today that Thomas “Bad Boy T” Msengana will be joining them on the 1st July 2006 as part of their new look line up, which also sees Pabi Moloi, Paul Mtirara and Eddie Zondi moving into new shows. The changes will be introduced in two stages – at the beginni! ng of April and the Beginning of July 2006.

In terms of the new on air changes Metro FM has taken the decision not to renew the contracts of Bertha Charuma, Vusi Letsoalo and Thabo “T Bose” Mokwele. Bertha and T Bose will be leaving the station at the end of March when their current contracts expire, and Vusi Letsoalo will leave at the end of June 2006.

Commented Programme Manager Leo Manne “Bertha, Vusi and T-Bose have left a significant mark on Metro FM and have all made crucial contributions to the station’s development. Between the 3 of them, they have been on air for more than 15 years making it a difficult decision for us to take.”

“But radio is a fluid business and we constantly have to reinvent ourselves to stay relevant and in touch. We have to juggle our fast rising new talent with our existing stars and ultimately owe it to our listeners and advertisers to keep on moving!”

In the first wave of changes on the 1st April Pabi Moloi and Paul Mtirara get their big weekday radio break, co-hosting mid mornings on Metro FM (Mon – Fri – 09h00-12h00), taking over from Bertha Charuma. Pabi and Paul currently host weekend shows on Metro FM.

Also on the 1st April Metro FM stalwart Eddie Zondi will glide into late nights, and will be on air between 21:00 – 00:00 Sun -Thursday, in place of T Bose.

The second wave of change on the 1st July will see Bad Boy T taking up the lunchtime reins (Monday – Friday 12:00-15:00.).

Added Manne “We welcome Bad Boy T on board and are excited about the new possibilities that they along with Pabi, Paul and Eddie present for Metro FM.”

Thomas ‘Bad Boy T’ Msengana moved from Good Hope FM in Cape Town to YFM at its inception in 1997 where he amassed a huge following with his hip-hop focus, in depth sports coverage and on air humour. He currently hosts the Harambe show on YFM with co-host Lee Kasumba. His contract with the station expires on the 30th June 2006.

Metro FM will announce their complete new line up before the end of the March 2006.

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13 Feb 2006
UPDATE
In the first official announcement, we received confirmation from 5FM that DJ Fresh will be starting on 5FM on the 1 July 2006. From Represent we say well done to 5FM – it’s a step in the right direction – hope Fresh will hold workshops for some of the other presenters.

YFM – we’re sad for your loss but we’re sure this will give you the incentive to freshen up the airwaves and spread the love a bit….

Here’s the scoop:
“The local airwaves are buzzing with a burst of creative energy.. Following newspaper reports today, contemporary hit radio station 5FM has confirmed that iconic local radio personality DJ Fresh will join the station as part of its new 2006 line-up in July.

Fresh confirmed that his contract to present the breakfast show on Gauteng youth station YFM expires at the end of June 2006 and he has no plan to renew.

John Langford, Station Manager at 5FM comments: “We’ve been systematically positioning 5FM for three years now in order to establish ourselves as the obvious choice for cosmopolitan, twenty-something South Africans. The news of Fresh change is yet another signal that we’ve arrived. Stand back – it’s radio in the 21st century, baby!”

“I am excited about being part of the start of a new 5FM era. I grew up listening to the then Radio 5 and Capital. Capital is no more – so, naturally… See you July 3rd!!!” says Fresh.

“The Big Dawg” – as Thato “Fresh” Sikwane is known to those close to him – hails from Gaborone, Botswana. He spread his grooves at YFM for over 8 years, where he was responsible for making the breakfast show one of the most popular morning slots in SA.

Fresh has also established various scholarships, in association with tertiary institutions such as RAU, Boston Media House and Monash University, to assist youth from all walks of life to realize their dreams. The man has become legendary for the unorthodox methods he’s used to raise funds for charities such as the Cancer Association and People Opposing Women Abuse. Fresh is also well known for various compilation and house mix-albums, which have just cemented his respected status and popularity.

Get ready for a serious rumble in radio this year, when the changes kick in at 5FM. Watch this space as the ultimate 5FM unfolds.

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9 February
Not only do we hear via the media gossip columns that DJ Fresh is going to 5fm, and Bad Boy T and Lee are going to MetroFm from YFM but we can officially announce (if you didn’t know already) that Mark Gillman will be giving up his breakfast slot on 5FM from the 30 June. FIrst of all let us say two things:

1) If we had to be up at 3am or whatever ung*dly hour breakfast DJ’s get up everyday to be on radio we would would also need a radical environmental change at some point.

2) MetroFM, Yfm and 5FM all need a radical shake up – MetroFM and YFM have become rather predictable and 5FM is really wishywashy – don’t know who does their recruiting in general but – eish some boring presenters out there with very throaty voices. 5FM needs to work on it’s young inhouse talent…
YFM – you need some new blood and to relinquish the hold of the old boys and girls club.

Anyway… let us end this little gossipy moment with a fabulous TITBIT – we have heard via our very nosey izinyoni’s that there is one more person leaving a certain station for another one… We’re not going to tell you who she is coz that’s private… watch this space.

Here’s the official take from 5fm:

It was confirmed this week on 5FM that it is indeed the “last summer”… Mark Gillman announced on the Mark Gillman Breakfast Show that he has decided to depart from the station’s breakfast slot as of June 30.

Gillman told listeners he “will be developing his broadcasting career in new arenas with plans for a groundbreaking new show in development.” Mark will continue to be involved with the station on a creative programming-basis. 5FM will shortly announce their new line-up plans.

“We’ve been aware of Mark’s plans for quite some time now. He wanted to go in March 2005 and has been alluding to his departure for the past two months with his “last summer…” on-air campaign. His 9 years hosting breakfast at 5FM have been irreverent, inventive and very idiosyncratic! And we are pleased to still have Mark on board in the form of his creative radio technology company – TMGS Creative,” comments John Langford, 5FM Station Manager.

“The band is breaking up and we’ll start a new band,” added Gillman.